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Council reviews proposed ordinance to regulate police ALPR use, sharing and audits
Summary
Council received a presentation and Q&A on a draft ordinance placing ALPR (automatic license plate reader) use into the city's technology code: it would define allowed uses, prohibit facial recognition and First Amendment targeting, require training, MOU terms for external access, and quarterly audits plus a public annual review; police leaders described public‑safety uses and staff committed to reporting misuse and auditing partners.
Michael Sanders, a council policy analyst, briefed the council on a proposed ordinance to add ALPR rules to the city's technology chapter (alongside body‑worn camera rules). Sanders said the ordinance would cover authorized uses, limits on sharing, training requirements and both quarterly and annual audits. He told the council the ALPR program was the subject of earlier public hearings tied to a potential COPS grant and that staff were asked to craft code that addresses privacy and civil‑liberties concerns raised by constituents.
Council members pressed police leadership and legal staff on operational controls: who may access the system, how external agencies get access (via a formal MOU and training), what auditing and reporting looks like, and whether misuse would be swiftly reported. The chief said the system “is used exclusively for criminal investigations,” described case‑number and crime‑type controls for queries, and staff explained that any MOU violation can terminate access and that misuse would be subject to internal review, criminal referral where appropriate, and reporting requirements in the draft code.
